Valeriy Vrublevskyi is the owner of the “Valer” agricultural farm in Poltava region. This family farm, established in 1997, cultivates 180 hectares of land. Valeriy and his wife grow wheat, soybeans, corn, and sunflower, occasionally adding other crops such as barley or buckwheat. An agronomist by profession, Valeriy left his job at a collective farm in the 1990s to start his own business and has been working the land ever since. Despite nearly 30 years of experience in the agricultural sector, Valeriy still faces the problem of finding financing for the development of his own farm.
Family Business and Development Challenges
Valeriy has been repeatedly denied financing by banks due to the small area of his farm, insufficient financial balance, and lack of significant collateral guarantees. Additionally, government subsidies for small farmers proved inaccessible due to exceeding the land bank threshold (180 hectares instead of the maximum allowed 150 hectares). Due to lack of financing, Valeriy had to postpone plans for equipment upgrades and reduce fertilizer expenses, which could affect yield reduction. The situation was becoming critical, and without additional resources, the farm could find itself on the brink of survival. The farmer faced a difficult question: where to get money when banks refuse?
“Financing for a small farm is like pouring sugar with a teaspoon into a barrel: they give something, but it’s not enough for serious development. Buying a new tractor or modern equipment is simply impossible. Banks want to work with farms of 500 hectares or more, and my 180 hectares seem too small to them,” says Valeriy.
The farm development situation is also complicated by high land rent, which today reaches 11,700 UAH per hectare, and unfavorable weather conditions that affect yields. For example, in 2023, due to drought, the soybean harvest was only 10 centners per hectare.
New Opportunity for Small Farmers
In August 2023, Valeriy accidentally learned through Facebook advertising about the WEAGRO online agricultural installment service for agribusiness. Understanding that financing was necessary for purchasing fertilizers, he submitted an application, although he did not expect success. “I know that banks refuse me, so I didn’t hope for a positive decision,” the farmer recalls.
However, WEAGRO approved his application, and Valeriy immediately received 129 thousand hryvnias for purchasing 4 tons of ammophos from “Ukragrokom” company. “It was fast, convenient, and transparent. I purchased the necessary fertilizers on time, and this allowed me to fertilize winter wheat,” the farmer noted.
WEAGRO Advantages
For Valeriy, WEAGRO became a real discovery. The online service allows small farmers to attract financing in installments for 180 days without the complex procedures characteristic of banks. Agreement approval occurs online within 30 minutes after the client submits an application. Farmers do not need collateral. The installment amount for one agreement can reach up to 2 million hryvnias. The main advantages of this online service are accessibility, speed, and transparency. “For me, this was real support at a difficult moment. Thanks to WEAGRO, I was able to fertilize winter wheat, and considering the very unfavorable weather, this was critically important,” shares Valeriy.
The farmer is confident that the WEAGRO online agricultural installment service for agribusiness is important for the development of small agribusiness in Ukraine. Especially when there are obstacles and it’s unclear where to get money when banks don’t provide it. Access to financing allows not only maintaining production but also investing in development.
“To develop, you need funds for new equipment and modern technologies. I hope that with the help of services like WEAGRO, I will be able to take a significant step forward,” concludes Valeriy.
According to him, thanks to WEAGRO, even small farms can receive financial support without unnecessary obstacles. Valeriy believes that with WEAGRO’s support, farmers will be able to optimize management of their farms and increase yields, developing new partnerships and investing in modern technologies.
The WEAGRO online service, developed with support from the USAID AGRO Program, has facilitated 119 agreements worth over 53.9 million UAH since 2024.
